UPDATE 9:30 AM, 5/20: Keep an eye on Tropical Storm Alberto
UPDATE 9:30 AM, 5/20: Tropical Storm Alberto is expected to remain mostly offshore, gradually weakening as it possibly brushes eastern North Carolina. A cold front approaching from the west (actually, the same cold front that helped trigger severe storms the Virginia Tech storm chasers caught in Nebraska on Saturday) will begin increasing thunderstorm chances early in the coming week. I will be on the road westward toward home today after a fairly good series of storm intercepts on Saturday, with wall clouds and gustnadoes (larger whirls of ground dust spun by strong outflow winds) being among the highlights. Will have some more details later. END UPDATE
UPDATE 2 AM, 5/20: Tropical Storm Alberto was named earlier this afternoon. For more, visit the National Hurricane Center website linked here. END UPDATE
Keep an eye on this little whirl off the coast of the Carolinas. The National Hurricane Center is. The low pressure system has a chance to take on tropical characteristics — i.e. a warm core arising from evaporation of warm ocean waters — if it hasn’t already. If the National Hurricane Center judges that it has developed sufficient tropical characteristics, it could become the first named storm of the Atlantic season (or pre-season, since the hurricane season technically begins June 1). As a tropical storm or subtropical storm (mixed tropical and non-tropical characteristics) with winds topping 40 mph, it would become Alberto. Keep this in mind if you are traveling toward the coast of the Carolinas. A full-blown hurricane is unlikely, but some windy, rainy weather is possible along the coast. Whether it’s Alberto or not, it may drift inland late in the weekend, and possibly farther west early next week, bringing a chance of showers and storms to Southwest Virginia.
I will be out today on the most active day of the current Virginia Tech storm chase, and a long return trip the next couple of days, so monitor the National Hurricane Center (click on Atlantic) and the National Weather Service-Blacksburg for further updates.
May 19, 2012 - 10:12 AM
RSS feed 
Tops off Wilmington and CHS this A.M. have gone over
50000 ft..obvious counterclockwise rotation to this
area..would love to be out flying over it.
Our flights have been dodging much of this area the last few days.
This is the tail end (or one of a couple of left ofer eddys) that
was part of the slow moving system that caused all the flooding earlier this week to the Valley.
Thanks Joe for that update. Will get comments up as time and cell connnectivity allow. We are in Salina KS headed toward Kansas-Nebraska border.
Found the Hokiechasers sitting in Belleville, Kansas!
http://prntscr.com/9frq3
Good luck today. Looks like there could be some photogenic supercells today and prolific hail producers.
Joe, thanks for your comment. I noticed that tight swirl of t-storms and wind early this A.M. on The Weather Channel radar before going to work. Please keep us updated on this puppy, because even though you may be in Texas, I think you have access to stuff that most of us don’t, or at least don’t know that we do.
By the way, what does “CHS” stand for in your 12:28 PM comment? Something to do with Charleston, SC as a wild guess by me?
Was just classified as a Tropical Storm.. although the low off the VA coast looks more impressive on visible. Must be an upper level/ cold core deal though. Our high level clouds are outflow from the Tropical Storm. Interesting to see where it tracks if it doesn’t strengthen (more westerly).
Looks KM will get his storms if he’s in position. Was headed in that direction last update.
Just checked in VERY late in Iowa. Aware that Alberto has been christened. Our day was pretty good — several wall clouds and gustnadoes, some supercell cloud formations. No tornadoes, though. We’ll be back in SW Virginia by Monday and will try again with a different group and a new pattern late next week.
Yes Doug..CHS is Charleston.
Here is latest from NOAA/NWS.
“Eastern Region Convective SIGMETs”
Updated 1325 UTC 20 May – 12
MKCE WST 201255
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 14E
VALID UNTIL 1455Z
SC GA AND SC FL GA CSTL WTRS
FROM 10N CHS-120ESE CHS-120E CRG-40NE CRG-30WSW SAV-10N CHS
AREA SEV TS MOV FROM 07010KT. TOPS TO FL440.
WIND GUSTS TO 50KT POSS.
TS ASSOCD WITH T.S. ALBERTO.
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 15E
VALID UNTIL 1455Z
FL CSTL WTRS
FROM 30SSE MIA-80ESE MIA-140SE MIA-40SSE EYW-30SSE MIA
AREA EMBD TS MOV LTL. TOPS TO FL370.
OUTLOOK VALID 201455-201855
AREA 1…FROM 40S FLO-90SSE ILM-220ENE OMN-OMN-30SSW CRG-30ENE
AMG-40S FLO
WST ISSUANCES EXPD. REFER TO MOST RECENT ACUS01 KWNS FROM STORM
PREDICTION CENTER FOR SYNOPSIS AND METEOROLOGICAL DETAILS. REFER
TO MOST RECENT WTNT21 KNHC FROM TROPICAL PREDICTION CENTER FOR
DETAILS ON T.S. ALBERTO.
AREA 2…FROM ORL-70E PBI-140SE MIA-80WSW EYW-70WSW PIE-ORL
WST ISSUANCES EXPD. REFER TO MOST RECENT ACUS01 KWNS FROM STORM
PREDICTION CENTER FOR SYNOPSIS AND METEOROLOGICAL DETAILS.
AREA 3…FROM 110ESE CYN-190S ACK-170ESE SBY-200ESE ECG-160ESE
ILM-40SE SBY-110ESE CYN
I show it moving off shore to NE slowly…50nmi offshore ILM (Wilmington) 2am early tomorrow…aprox 150 nmi offshore Norfolk 2am Tue…then continuing NE into the Atlantic..winds fcst to weaken to 45mph…never exceding 50mph.
Kevin…
Saw several cell clusters in Kansas yesterday
St Louis and Oklahoma City was as close as any of
my flights got to those spots…
When you guys were headed to Nebraska looked like a
very strong small cluster developed in far southern KS.
It did look like far more coverage eventually in Nebraska.
Hi Guys; Would “this little whirl off the coast of the Carolinas” be considered an “ALBERTO CLIPPER” ?? :>) ! !
Just read from Dave Tolleris that usually the area of the first tropical system is where the most action is going to be for the year. Guess this means look out Carolinas, Delmarva and the rest of the east coast! Just keep the storms away from Nagshead the 2nd week of August, that is vacation time!
Kevin…ya just missed..
http://enidnews.com/state/x915983730/Tornado-on-the-ground-in-Kansas
I’d like to see some research on that claim, Jared.
Joe: We missed a tornado even closer to us in Nebraska. Still a good day for the students.
Joseph, thanks for your updates. I cannot decipher several of the lines in that longest comment, but that’s OK. You summarized at the bottom of it. And TWC agrees with you, if that is worth anything, about where the A Storm is going to go. By the way, I saw on TWC yesterday (but I cannot remember if it was before 7 AM or after I got home from work … prob’ly the former?) that Alberto had winds of 60 mph briefly either overnight Friday or Saturday early.
Very clever comment by you, Peppers Ferry, about the “Alberto Clipper,” but as Richard Dawson used to say on the early days of “Family Feud,” survey says …. “no.” I am fairly sure that Alberta Clippers are one of the fastest moving weather systems, whereas for the past two days T.S. Alberto is dilly-dallying like a woman trying to compare the best sales while shopping, or like a lot of PGA Tour pros trying to line up a putt before the sunset comes. (Golf comment: some of those golf pros can be nicknamed “The Human Rain Delay”).
Like that, Peppers Ferry.
We’ve postponed our 2nd trip til Memorial Day. Upper air dynamics look really good later this week, but moisture return is weak. Not worth straining the drivers for a long trip home followed with quick return. Gonna let moisture get rebuilt into Plains and hope summer heat ridge doesn’t build in for good.
Radar shows some westward moving showers nearing Roanoke Valley … influenced by the Alberto clipper, of course. (I’m in Illinois now)
Lost power for about 1 minute Thursday may 10th and my computor was toast!Had to buy a new one today and my son just got it going.I have missed this site something alful.My wife and me did the relay for life yesterday in Culpeper,we were team Tominator.Tom was one of my best friends ever,i miss him!The weather was great close to 90 and low humidity,but cooled off quick after the sun set.Everyone have a great rest of the weekend.
A few sprinkles here and it died before getting to Floyd Co. looks like.
Just a few drops of rain in the Vinton area…enough to cover the wind shields of parked cars around 5:30pm.
wdbrand – yes, I thought we were going to get some rain but watched it on radar just fall apart and by the time it got to the Doppler it had split into 2 parts.
Enjoying this weather!!! Did have a low of 43 F on Sat. morning and then 45 this morning.
a bit of an update about Stubborn Alberto..
“Atlantic Hurricane/Tropical Storm Advisories”
Updated 0400 UTC 21 May – 12
WTNT21 KNHC 210237
TCMAT1
TROPICAL STORM ALBERTO FORECAST/ADVISORY NUMBER 6
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL012012
0300 UTC MON MAY 21 2012
THERE ARE NO COASTAL WATCHES OR WARNINGS IN EFFECT.
TROPICAL STORM CENTER LOCATED NEAR 30.5N 80.1W AT 21/0300Z
POSITION ACCURATE WITHIN 15 NM
PRESENT MOVEMENT TOWARD THE SOUTH OR 180 DEGREES AT 4 KT
ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE 1007 MB
MAX SUSTAINED WINDS 35 KT WITH GUSTS TO 45 KT.
34 KT……. 40NE 20SE 30SW 60NW.
12 FT SEAS..120NE 50SE 40SW 30NW.
WINDS AND SEAS VARY GREATLY IN EACH QUADRANT. RADII IN NAUTICAL
MILES ARE THE LARGEST RADII EXPECTED ANYWHERE IN THAT QUADRANT.
REPEAT…CENTER LOCATED NEAR 30.5N 80.1W AT 21/0300Z
AT 21/0000Z CENTER WAS LOCATED NEAR 30.7N 80.1W
FORECAST VALID 21/1200Z 30.6N 79.4W
MAX WIND 35 KT…GUSTS 45 KT.
34 KT…120NE 60SE 30SW 60NW.
FORECAST VALID 22/0000Z 31.5N 77.8W
MAX WIND 35 KT…GUSTS 45 KT.
34 KT… 40NE 40SE 40SW 40NW.
FORECAST VALID 22/1200Z 33.2N 75.3W
MAX WIND 35 KT…GUSTS 45 KT.
34 KT… 50NE 50SE 40SW 30NW.
FORECAST VALID 23/0000Z 35.5N 72.2W
MAX WIND 35 KT…GUSTS 45 KT.
34 KT… 50NE 60SE 40SW 30NW.
FORECAST VALID 24/0000Z 39.0N 66.0W…POST-TROP/EXTRATROP
MAX WIND 30 KT…GUSTS 40 KT.
EXTENDED OUTLOOK. NOTE…ERRORS FOR TRACK HAVE AVERAGED NEAR 250 NM
ON DAY 4 AND 325 NM ON DAY 5…AND FOR INTENSITY NEAR 20 KT EACH DAY
OUTLOOK VALID 25/0000Z…DISSIPATED
REQUEST FOR 3 HOURLY SHIP REPORTS WITHIN 300 MILES OF 30.5N 80.1W
NEXT ADVISORY AT 21/0900Z
$$
FORECASTER BLAKE
WTNT31 KNHC 210238
TCPAT1
BULLETIN
TROPICAL STORM ALBERTO ADVISORY NUMBER 6
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL012012
1100 PM EDT SUN MAY 20 2012
…ALBERTO BECOMING LESS ORGANIZED AND WEAKENING…
SUMMARY OF 1100 PM EDT…0300 UTC…INFORMATION
———————————————–
LOCATION…30.5N 80.1W
ABOUT 85 MI…135 KM ENE OF ST. AUGUSTINE FLORIDA
ABOUT 160 MI…255 KM S OF CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…40 MPH…65 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…S OR 180 DEGREES AT 5 MPH…7 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…1007 MB…29.74 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
——————–
THERE ARE NO COASTAL WATCHES OR WARNINGS IN EFFECT.
DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
——————————
AT 1100 PM EDT…0300 UTC…THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM ALBERTO WAS
LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 30.5 NORTH…LONGITUDE 80.1 WEST. ALBERTO IS
MOVING TOWARD THE SOUTH NEAR 5 MPH…7 KM/H. A GRADUAL TURN TOWARD
THE SOUTHEAST AND EAST IS EXPECTED ON MONDAY…WITH A TURN TOWARD
THE NORTHEAST AND AN INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED FORECAST BY EARLY
TUESDAY. ON THIS TRACK…THE CENTER OF ALBERTO IS EXPECTED TO STAY
OFFSHORE OF THE GEORGIA AND CAROLINA COASTS.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 40 MPH…65 KM/H…
WITH HIGHER GUSTS. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS FORECAST DURING
THE NEXT 48 HOURS.
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 70 MILES…110 KM
FROM THE CENTER.
ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1007 MB…29.74 INCHES.
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
———————-
SURF…DANGEROUS SURF CONDITIONS…INCLUDING RIP CURRENTS…ARE
POSSIBLE ALONG THE COASTS OF NORTHEASTERN FLORIDA…GEORGIA…AND
SOUTH CAROLINA THROUGH MONDAY. PLEASE SEE STATEMENTS ISSUED BY
YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE FOR INFORMATION SPECIFIC
TO YOUR AREA.
Doug, we were in that area, not so much chasing as passing through and enjoying the sights. Storms were pulse storms, like we have in summer, going up and then raining themselves out. We have landed in western Ohio tonight planning return to SW Va by midday.
In 75 words or less {:>)}, what exactly are “pulse storms?” Do we get them in SWVA?
Yes we do, Doug, all summer. Storms with little or no shear aloft. They go up and then collapse in a burst of rain and wind. Probably 70 percent or more of our storms are pulse. A little more shear creates multicells … clusters, lines … while the most shear causes supercells … rotating, relatively long lasting storms.
pulse sounds seductive…they are also known as
garden variety “airmass thunderstorms”
and in 15 words or less Douglas…I didnt realize you were
an appointed moderator.
Here’s a question that’s driving me nuts. Maybe Kevin or one of you others know.
I’m new to this area, and I run and bike every morning. Before going out, I always flip on NOAA radio. In the regional summary (It’s so and so and cloudy in Blacksburg, in Roanoke, so and so …) there’s one location that sounds like “…and at Coastal Airport, it’s …” I can’t find a “Coastal Airport” anywhere in this region, so I’m sure I must be hearing this wrong. Anybody know what it is? Thanks, ed
He is likely saying Covesville..
Its a NOAA site in Central Va.
Ive never heard it though.
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/Maps/PHP/virginia.php
Covesville is near Fan Mountain..where UVA has their Astronomical Observatory..
I didnt know they had a weather station there..but makes sense.
http://www.astro.virginia.edu/~fanweather/40weather/
That would be NOAA broadcast WXL 60 on 162.475mh for our area. The only two airports mentioned on the weather summary for that frequency are Hillsville Airport and Mt. Empire Airport. So unless you’re tuned into a different station, there’s no mention/listing for a [coastal airport]. The only other possibility would be if you’re hearing a forecast for Roanoke like ["local airport"], for RRA, aka ROA. Normally isn’t broadcast like that but would sound enough like it["coastal airport"] to mistake it for that.
I’m in a downpour at Christiansburg.
Thanks a lot, wdbrand! That’s it, I’m sure. “Local airport.” My NOAA radio is not of the highest quality (neither are my ears!) and I’m sure that’s it. Had driven me batty. ed
Thanks also to joe. I’ve written the two alternatives down (“local” airport and “covesville” and I’m sure I can figure it out now. ed
Joe, fime report on the storm, especially from your location. But again, you could what we see and do a much better job interpreting it. I figure Mr. Griggs used a word limit to keep Kevin from having to be long winded while on the road. But, what do I know?
Actually Joe, I was making fun of myself. That’s why I put the “LOL” in parentheses after asking Kevin about pulse storms. At least 85% of MY comments are longer than 75 words. But not this one …
Well, now that “Burt Lancaster” Myatt is back in the area, many of us are getting our first raindrops since he left last Tuesday. Like our neighborhood. Although that is all we have received so far … a few raindrops. But a nasty looking line went through mostly on the north side of ROA and I’m sure that they got more than a few raindrops up there, and now in Botetourt. Buchanan and Troutville are getting hit very hard, according to radar …. bright reds.
Kevin, are you planning to arrange the summertime heat contest later this week? If you do, it would be nice if you would mention the top 2 or 3 years both here and in Blacksburg that had the most 90+ degree days, and the fewest, and how many 90+ degree days there were in the years involved. Thanks. Good to have you back in the area.
Maybe it wont be quite as hot this summer
as last..at least the moist ground in many
areas will thwart it getting a toe hold.
I-ll end up buying a certain Irish weather tech
20 pounds of potatoes If this holds true for Dallas..
And I-ll gladly buy these potatoes.
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/briefings/201205.pdf
Joe, THANKS VERY MUCH for that link to the ncdc/noaa report!!! It was chock full of interesting stuff. My sisters and lifelong friends let me know a couple of weeks ago that Massachusetts is under water restrictions because of a drought. And one of the pages on your report verified that. Those maps of the USA showed that not only was most of the USA extremely warm for the JAN-APRIL time period, but also that many states had one of their driest starts to the calendar year. Virginia had its 30th driest JAN-APRIL period out of 118 years, but many states were having their top ten (i.e., driest). And I think that Maryland and maybe DEL had its record driest.